Applying For Funding
Start your funding application
ADVANCED LEARNer LOANS
Who's it for and how long does it take?
In short, it’s a form of student loan that covers the cost of your course, so you don’t have to face any upfront costs. To apply for an Advanced Learner Loan, you’ll usually need to:
be aged 19 or over at the start of your course,
be undertaking a course at Level 3 or above,
be a British Citizen, or have residency status
have lived in the UK for 3 years or more (even if you’re a UK National)
What You’ll Need
Passport or Birth Certificate
National Insurance Number
Email Address
Funding Letter
What if I don’t have everything I need?
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If your passport has expired, you can still start your application using your details, but you will usually need to send your original birth or adoption certificate to Student Finance England to confirm your identity.
This can take longer to process, so renewing your passport may be quicker if you are able to do so.
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If you do not have a passport, you can submit your original birth or adoption certificate instead. However, doing so can take 4-6 weeks to be processed.
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If you don’t have a birth certificate, you will need to apply for a replacement copy. You can do this online, but there will be a charge.
To get your birth certificate, you will need to provide the exact details recorded at the time of birth, including your;
full name at birth
date of birth
place of birth
parents' full names (including mother's maiden name)
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If you have changed your name or surname, you’re still eligible to apply with your current details. However, you may need to provide evidence of the change, such as a marriage certificate, civil partnership document, divorce document or change of name deed.
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Your National Insurance (NI) number is made up of 2 letters, 6 numbers and a final letter, for example, QQ123456B. You can find your NI number:
on a document you already have, for example a P60, payslip or letters about benefits
in your personal tax account if you already have one
in the HMRC app if you live in the UK
You can also find your national insurance number here.
Step-by-step guide
The Funding Application Process
Once you’ve completed your Fitasylum application, our admin team will send you the details you need to apply for your Advanced Learner Loan. Here’s what happens next.
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Use Your Learning & Funding Letter
Find the letter sent by our admin team. You’ll need the details inside it for your Student Finance application.
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Complete Your Student Finance Application
Use your personal details, identification, National Insurance number and course information.
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Wait for Loan Approval
Most learners receive a decision within around 6 days, although this can vary.
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Complete Your BKSB Assessments
These check your English and maths starting points before enrolment.
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Attend Your First Course Day
Your enrolment is confirmed when you attend and complete the required enrolment steps.
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Your Course Funding Begins
Once you’re enrolled, your funding is activated through the Advanced Learner Loan process.
What Happens After My Loan has been approved?
You'll be signed up for our Maths & English assessment platform. It's not an exam, but it's required to determine your learning level for the course.
After you have completed that, you will need to fill out a final attendance form to confirm your participation in the course.
Finally, you’ll be set up on our online platforms so that you are ready for day 1 of your course.
Common Mistakes That Cause Funding Delays
Incorrect personal details
Forgotten email addresses
Expired passports
Delays in sending supporting evidence
Administration delays at Student Finance England.
If you need help at any point, you can contact the Admin Team or call the Advanced Learner Loan Helpline directly on 0300 100 0619.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Yes!
You can apply for up to four Advanced Learner Loans. This means you may be able to use separate loans for more than one eligible course, such as;
L3 Gym and Personal Training
L3 Sports Massage
L4 Sports Massage
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If you have used an Advanced Learner Loan before, that’s ok, so long as you haven’t used 4, you should still be able to apply for another one.
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Yes!
This is a question we get quite often for those who wish to retrain. Though the Advanced Learner Loan Company is a section of Student Finance England, you will still be eligible to apply for this additional student loan.
Having a degree, in this case, means that you’ll already have an account with them, so you would need to log into your existing Student Finance Account to apply for the funding.
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Your employment status does not usually decide whether you can apply for an Advanced Learner Loan. Eligibility is mainly based on your age, course, training provider, and nationality or residency status.
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Our courses are part-time vocational courses, so many learners are still able to study while claiming Universal Credit. However, your circumstances are personal to you, so we recommend telling your work coach or the DWP before starting your course.
We can provide confirmation of your course details if you are asked for evidence.
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If your Advanced Learner Loan application is rejected, the other payment option is to pay for the course outright. This can be done either by Bank Transfer or Credit Card.
Under special circumstances, we may offer a 6-month payment plan to pay for the course; however, this is at the manager’s discretion. Please note that should you be offered this payment option, you will not receive your certificate until you have completed your payments.
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Because these qualifications are funded through the Advanced Learner Loan route, we are required to check your English and maths starting points before enrolment.
This is not an exam. It helps us understand whether you may need any extra support while completing your course.